Senate Bill 8, described by sponsor Senator Middleton as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, received extended floor debate before passing second‑reading actions. The bill would designate certain spaces and facilities according to biological sex and authorize civil penalties and enforcement mechanisms for political subdivisions and state agencies that set policies inconsistent with the statute.

Sponsor remarks and rationale
Senator Middleton argued the legislation ‘‘draws a very clear line. Women and girls should never be forced to give up their privacy to men that are pretending to be women. This is common sense,’’ and said the bill protects privacy in restrooms, locker rooms, showers and family‑violence shelters.

Concerns raised on the floor
Colleagues pressed the sponsor on multiple operational and safety points: whether the bill’s shelter provisions would exclude victims under age 17, how placement of transgender inmates in correctional facilities would interact with PREA (the Prison Rape Elimination Act) standards, and whether the bill’s civil penalties (a $5,000 first offense and escalating daily fines after repeat violations, per floor discussion) were excessive. Senator Menendez questioned risks to transgender inmates and shelters, and pointed to PREA standards recommending individualized placement decisions.

Sponsor response and exemptions
Middleton said the bill is intended to track executive directives and to include exceptions for single‑occupancy restrooms and accompanying persons; he also said many state agencies and institutions have policies in place and that the bill aims for a uniform standard. On shelters, he said the provision applies only to shelters ‘‘designed specifically to provide services to female victims.’’

Procedural outcome
The Senate suspended the regular order and placed SB 8 on second reading; suspension of the order carried 19 ayes, 11 nays, and the bill passed to engrossment on the same tally before being held at engrossment per the transcript.

Context
Floor debate was extensive and adversarial at times, with senators who handle criminal‑justice and victim‑services policy pressing the sponsor about unintended consequences for vulnerable people, shelters, and compliance with federal standards. Supporters framed the bill as restoring sex‑segregated privacy and safety; opponents said it risks excluding vulnerable minors and complicating corrections placements.

Ending
SB 8 cleared second‑reading procedural hurdles and moves forward in the legislative process, with significant implementation questions and likely judicial scrutiny flagged during floor debate.